Friday, October 27, 2017

Sharing today a few orchids that I purchased this week for a client.I spent 3 days running all over town searching for the right ones. I ended up today after The Cowboy suggested it calling around the local stores that might have them.

I hope she likes them

I probably spent an hour turning it this way and that looking for the perfect angle

This is what she'll see when she walks in the door

I re-potted them into the urns.

Here's one in the dining room.

This isn't the urn that was originally in the room. I am not sure if she would want it sitting on the wood so I put a cloth underneath.

I wasn't able to find the smaller orchids she usually uses for this area so I had to find a different pot. I choose the urn that was similar to the one in the entry way.

It was hard finding the white. I wasn't able to find any small ones.

For another smaller entry way I chose this one. . .

I hope she likes them!

And I hope she likes how the house looks. This client has been out of town since May. I am the house keeper and manager of the grounds. Its been a struggle this summer getting the yard men to keep up with the work. I am a little curious what they will think when they return tonight! We'll see.

Anyway it was fun and stressful shopping for these gorgeous orchids. The best part was spending someone else's money!

Wednesday, October 25, 2017

Good morning and Welcome to the the blog. Today I am sharing my new Fall Retreat.

I have thought and thought about what to call this room. We've gone from Green House to Out Door Room to Cabin space.

Well maybe you can give me an idea!

The room is a perfect cozy space. Especially now that I have a new cozy love seat.

It's one of those so ugly it's cute pieces. My daughter bought a few years ago. She asked me to store for her and so it's now in my cozy room!

I got the new chairs a month ago and just hadn't had the time to photo. They were my little shabby chic side of the room until the love seat came. Now I think the whole room is pulled together.

I paid $50.00 for the pair. I was disappointed the wooden piece between them I had to turn on it's side to fit. It would look better the other way but the chair on the right is by the door. I don't want the dog rubbing it going in and out.

During the summer the table was sitting where the love seat is now. I had already moved it to get ready for Christmas. It's set ready for a little fall supper.

And after supper while the Cowboy watches video's I can have a glass of wine and read a book!I love my Fall Retreat.

"Jesus picked a busy time of year to have a birthday! Although I am saying this in

jest, there is nothing funny about how the frantic nature of this season can rob one

of joy that Christmas represents. In her latest project, Melissa Spoelstra gives candid

and practical tools to help the overcommitted and overwhelmed put the merry back

into 'Merry Christmas.' "

---Amberly Neese, speaker, author, humorist

Do you find that you too have been caught up in the Chistmas have to's instead of the God-centered love to's? Give your Christmas a makeover with this practical approach to help your family learn what it means to truly celebrate their Savior.

In Total Christmas Makeover, author and Bible teacher Melissa Spoelstra provides ways for you and your family to turn your attention toward God's grace day-by-day as you prepare for Christmas. This 31-day devotional presents key scriptures, ideas to implement with each reading, and questions for reflection to guide you in rediscovering the meaning behind traditions we often lose sight of in the chaos. Melissa divides the book into 3 sections, focusing on the following three common elements of biblical celebrations:

Ritual: Special activities out of the ordinary routine were planned to help remember what God has done.

Relationships: People spent time together preparing special foods, eating, gathering in holy assembly, and explaining their traditions to children.

Rest: Regular work was to be set aside for planned times of celebration and rest from activity in order to reflect on God.

Mindfully take time to listen to how God continues to speak through the Christmas story as the Gospel narratives centered around the birth of Jesus provide encouragement and revelation concerning the love of God and his wisdom for us today.

And I thought

Just in time for the holidays. A great devotional for the busy mom who wants to have a more meaning Christmas for her family.

Melissa Spoelstra begins the book sharing her families Christmas experiences. From her own experiences as a child and her husbands. They took their own experiences and tried to blend a

special time for their children.

With frank honesty Melissa shares how the early Christmas' were a bit of a failure with a 6 year old, 1 year old twins and a 3 month old.

As the attempted to bring meaning into the holiday season they read Bible stories and tried to make the season center around Christ.

I loved the frankness as she shared how her 6 year old was

thoroughly enchanted with the event. While the 3 month old fell asleep. And then there were the 2 year old twins happily exclaimed when asked "Who created the world." One twins response was "I did!"

Many of us have been there. Trying to bring significance to the holidays and remind and remember the reason for the season.

With this small devotional a mere 203 pages Melissa shares thoughts ideas and suggestions to make this season one that is special and centered around Christ.

The book is a fast and easy read. With some humor to make the reading light and enjoyable.

The book is made up of 3 separate sections:

Ritual with 10 days of devotionals

Relationships with 10 days of devotionals

Rest with 11 days of devotional

Each short devotional begins with a scripture and ends with a prayer, followed by questions for reflection and a practical approach filled with suggestions and ideas.

I would suggest this great book to everyone.

This would be a great gift to give to an adult child at Thanksgiving.

I think it would be a great book to read with a group of friends as a Bible study for the holidays.

Whether the application group study or individual study you'll

come away feeling a little more relaxed and ready for the wonderful season of Christmas!

Monday, October 23, 2017

Hello Debra and welcome to the blog. I was delighted to have the chance to chat about The Clobbered Cad.

Thank you. I enjoy talking about the book. I had so much fun writing it.

Is this your first blog tour? Not really but nearly. I booked two blog tours and they ended up overlapping in October. I feel like a vaudeville star hitting the stage in a new town every night! It's kept me on my toes and I've really enjoyed it.

I love the tours. I especially like the chance to do these interviews with the authors. Great! I actually enjoy interviews because I don't have to think too hard. Sometimes guest posting is a lot of work. (I have to sound clever and interesting!)

Can you tell me what interests you in doing a blog tour? Self-interest, of course! I get to meet new people and show off my book. The whole idea is to hopefully gain new readers. I mean anyone can publish a book, but promotion has become half the job. Without book bloggers we'd all be sunk! I've poked around many of the blogs I'm now visiting and it's fun to be waving from the inside.

I wish you the best with the tour for The Clobbered Cad. It certainly is an interesting title. Can you explain the title for the readers? Well, multiple factors at work. First of all, we chose titles that hinted at the old "girl detective" titles, and second, I love alliterative titles, but I wanted readers to expect just a tiny bit of 'camp' in the story. Thankfully my victim was a cad and, yet, he got clobbered.

How did you decided on the era for this series? The publisher and my author friend, Lisa Karon Richardson (Who proposed the idea and is the author of Book #1 The Counterfeit Clue, wanted an era that would parallel the decades when 'girl detective' novels were really big. We settled on the post war era, and I _could_ say I remember the fifties. Okay, at least the sixties, so this era doesn't feel so far removed for someone...my age!

Scotland was a fun locale for Heather. I was wondering what other places she has visited? Scotland was Heather's first trip across the ocean, but her family did a cross-country tour when she was a teen. Classic Americana! Next, she'll be visiting Ireland and I believe there's a charming Irishman--and a murder--in her future.

Is Scotland a place you've lived or visited or did you have to do some research about the area for the book? I actually had this book partially plotted when I made a spontaneous decision to go to Scotland. So it became a perfect opportunity to change the setting and dig into the history and archaeology departments. That's when I discovered the perfect murder weapon.

During your research did you get a chance to sample any Scottish whisky? The day my friend and I visited Edinburgh Castle, there was a free whisky tasting. We tried a cream whisky. (I expect they do this all the time, but it felt like a real treat!) There's certainly a lot to learn about the whole process and Scotland would be the place to do it.

I enjoy reading Cozy Mystery's. Do you feel like the book/series could fit into other categories or genres? With some added emphasis, it could have more romance, and because of the age of the heroine and her innocence, it's appropriate for YA as well. Even as is, The Clobbered Cad doesn't fit perfectly into a cozy genre as we know it now. I studied classic mysteries and other amateur sleuth stories as well as Nancy Drews and Trixie Beldens. (Such hard work--ha ha!)

Can you tell us which retail sites the book is available. I am curious is there a specific store or site that doesn't have the book that you love for your books to be available? We started out with the books on more markets but now, I believe, they are just on Amazon. This was a matter of bottom line and streamlining for the publisher. Of course, I'd love to see it on the shelf of a bookstore, but that's very difficult for any small publisher to achieve.

This was a delightful visit. Thank you for taking the time to chat.

Thank you Sherry! I enjoyed your questions and I appreciate your willingness to host me and review my book. I look forward to chatting with your readers. and hope they enter the giveaway. Thanks also to Lori of Great Escapes!

Welcome to Happy Homemaker Monday. Each week I share a few plans and join Sandra and a few others for a fun little party...

The Weather

Fall...I love Fall weather don't you? Here it is in the 70's and still creeping to low 80's in the afternoon. Aghh....

Right Now I Am

Making plans in my head for some new things here on the blog.

Maybe I'll have new pages and background up for you today.

We'll see!

Looking Forward To

Working less. Praise the Lord. I am sure you've notices how absent I have been here.

Now I will only be working every other Monday. A whole day off to do 'stuff'! It will mean a huge difference to me.

We are planning on my cutting back and not working on Friday.

On The To Do List

I am planning to take Domino to a garden center or pumpkin patch to take pics!

On My Reading PileI always have way too many on my pile so lately I have been I have been sharing 'the one' that is calling me to jump in and turn some pages. This week I this one is calling my name!I can't wait to read this one. But I have a few others to read first.I have books on my computer, on the kindle, on the phone and print copies. I can read wherever I am.

In The GardenI bought small mums last week I hope to get them in the flower bed.The pumpkin vine has blooms again but haven't gotten a pumpkin.

Fabulous Features

I loved Lindsay's post at Repurpose and Recycle . . . When it comes to my decor, you know I have two requirements; cheap and easy. After all, if it breaks the bank and takes too much time, then decorating becomes a chore. Anyone else feel this way

My Closet Sewing Space Tour

My Journey Back

Every Knee Shall Bow

Establish The Work . . .

Date Night

Hiding His Word In My Heart

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalm 119:11

Wha'ts your Mission 4 Monday or Tuesday or . . .

I was writing a post for Mission 4 Monday and I realized it would be cool to see what ways you might share Jesus that are kind of 'out of the box'. So leave me your comments or write a post and come back and leave me the link.